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Preventing Christmas decoration fires can stop millions in property damage every year
Fox News
Decorations that aren't set up correctly can cause serious problems.
Firefighters respond to an average of 160 home fires a year stemming from Christmas trees, according to the National Fire Protection Association. These fires reportedly cause $10 million in property damage, and cause an average of 14 injuries and two deaths each year.
Fox News spoke with Robert Verhelst, a fireman with 21 years of experience and a motivational speaker based out of Wisconsin, about how to prevent Christmas tree fires.
One of the most important things to think about, Verhelst said, is tree placement. While there may be a corner of the house where the tree looks perfect, that may not be the best spot to place it. Verhelst says it’s important to keep trees away from heat sources, such as vents or fireplaces.